Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Mount Hotham Victoria & Some Snow

One of the things we really wanted to do if possible was to see some snow on our trip, as the boys hadn't seen any, and Lee and I hadn't for a long time...so off we went on a day trip from Bright to Mt Hotham which is supposed to be Australia's highest snow resort...
Beside a cafeteria we came across a lump of snow that had fallen the previous week, most of which had melted due to the rains that had followed...it was a start! The boys were quite excited...Lee just wanted to throw some at Tom!!
This pan shot is a typical view of the country surrounding Mt Hotham...very cold, -1 to 1 degree min and max temperatures!!
Joey and Sam were happy to find some more snow to play in. Funny how people want to throw the stuff at the camera person!!
Sam was so excited he had to sit down...not for long though, just enough to make his bottom numb!!
Tom, Joey, & Sam experienced a little snow fall during our walk around Mt Hotham. The boys had just enough to make them want to come back again...in the middle of winter next time...

Bright - Victorian Alpine Country

Here we are down South in Victoria (again!). This shot shows something a lot of Queensland doesn't see - Autumn leaves falling. We have a lot of evergreens in the North. These colours of Autumn are all around Bright which is a lovely little town at the foothills of Victoria's Alpine Country...
Sam is getting into the swing of things and letting off some steam, having a good time playing around in the park full of leaves...
Leeanne was keen to practice some more photography. It'd easy to see why Americans call this time of year 'Fall'...
Something we heard about recently was a silly sort of 'game' called planking. Here's Joey demonstrating a  way of executing the 'art'...
...He decided that it would be far easier and more comfortable to utilise a real 'plank' to show his style on...
Not to be outdone, the 'old bloke' has a go as well. Something the photo doesn't highlight are the creaks! The bent legs aren't on purpose, it's actually the first stage of rigour mortis!!!
Lee has captured the scene alongside the Ovens River which runs through Bright quite nicely. It really is a quaint sort of town with lots of colours and attractions...
Above us we could see the 'Big Bird' heading south (probably to Melbourne) and couldn't resist a snapshot...

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Into Qld & Kenilworth on the Sunshine Coast

Here is the entrance sign to 'God's Country' the 'beautiful one day, and perfect the next' - QLD!! However, the last 12 months of topsy-turvey weather might suggest otherwise....anyhow it's a beautiful drive through the countryside of Tenterfield (NSW) to the Sunshine Coast...
Arriving at Kenilworth we set up camp a day earlier than other visitors from the fellowships around the Sunshine Coast. Here's Louey in her 'PJ's' to greet the new day!!
A pan view of the lovely hills around the Kenilworth Showgrounds - very peaceful...
This is Elizabeth St which is the main street of the township. Both sides have a coffee shop & cafe to snack at if visitors choose to. Overall it's a quaint sort of atmosphere here...
A local tourist attraction is the Cheese factory where visitors can indulge in a variety of cheeses, as well as yoghurts, and other fat laden dairy products...yummy...
The kids hangout! Kenilworth town park, where kids of all ages congregate...some in their forties and fifties!! I think it's because of the sliding swing and surrounding greenery....
Another highlight of our Kenilworth visit, (but she's a highlight anywhere in Australia!) was the princess having a birthday. Thanks for the cake Chrissy!...

Monday, May 2, 2011

Newcastle & Salamander Bay Area

Heading north from the 'Big Smoke' we went to Newcastle which is a couple of hours away. Quite a beautiful section of coastline compliments this medium size city. This shot is of Newcastle main beach.
A further 55km north took us to Lee's home town area of Nelson Bay which has a multitude of inlets and beaches, all part of the Port Stephens area which holds several more times water than Sydney Harbour. Here is Sam having some exercise at the local park near Lee's parents' place...
A pan view of the southern bay area looking towards Corlette Beach...
Joey & Sam at the northern end of Wanda Beach. On this occasion we were headed up the beach to check out a tree swing that someone kindly provided...the boys had a ball...
...here's the 'swingers' at Wanda Beach...
A pan view of Wanda Beach showing the heads. On the south is Tomaree National Park and on the north is Yackaba...
Yes, another year rolls by...birthday time again...at Ma & Pops' this time. Thanks boys & mum for the pressies and songs...
Because we missed Christmas with the family this year it was...Christmas in April at Ma & Pops'...
A bit of nostalgia...in 1982 I worked on these storage tanks (at left) for Tomago Alumina. At the right is one of the coal loaders on Kooragang Island. Newcastle is the worlds busiest coal port!!